Method and tool for directional electromagnetic well logging

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure describes various antenna assemblies, each antenna coil being disposed about a tool body section in an antenna pathway. The antenna pathway passes through alternating grooves and lands. At least one of the grooves is disposed in the tool body section at a non-axial direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the tool body section. The antenna coil may be an axial coil or a tilted coil. Additional grooves oriented at axial direction may be disposed on the tool body section. Various methods include acquiring a plurality of data pairs using one or more antenna coils, each data pair comprising an induced signal at a receiver and a corresponding toolface angle using a tool including at least one antenna assembly, to generate a measurement including obtaining information about the directionality of the formation by calculating areas of an induced signal function approximated by the plurality of data pairs.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/061,572, filed Oct. 23, 2013, and claims, under35 U.S.C. § 120, priority to that application and all rights andbenefits accorded thereby. This application also claims the benefit ofU.S. Provisional Application No. 61/807,236, filed Apr. 1, 2013.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of logging toolsand particularly to electromagnetic logging tools. More specifically,the present disclosure relates to various directional antenna and tooldesigns, and methods for directional electromagnetic well logging whiledrilling.

Various well logging techniques are known in the field of hydrocarbonexploration and production. These techniques use instruments or toolsequipped with transmitters adapted to emit energy into a subsurfaceformation that has been penetrated by a borehole. In this description,“instrument” and “tool” will be used interchangeably to indicate, forexample, an electromagnetic instrument (or tool), a wire-line tool (orinstrument), or a logging-while-drilling tool (or instrument). Theemitted energy interacts with the surrounding formation to producesignals that are then detected and measured by one or more sensors. Byprocessing the detected signal data, a profile of formation propertiescan be generated.

More specifically, electromagnetic logging tools includingelectromagnetic induction and wave propagation logging tools are usedfor determination of electrical properties of formations surrounding aborehole. Such logging tools obtain measurements relating to resistivity(or its inverse, conductivity) of the formation that, when interpreted,illustrate various petrophysical properties of the formation and fluidstherein. The physical principles of electromagnetic inductionresistivity well logging are well known.

Electromagnetic logging tools use transmitter and receiver antennasformed from an antenna coil, or a coil for short, formed of one or moreturns of conductor wire, wound around a support. In some embodiments,such antennas may be operable as transmitter and/or receiver. Thoseskilled in the art will appreciate that an antenna may be used as atransmitter at one time and as a receiver at another. It will also beappreciated that the transmitter-receiver configurations disclosedherein are interchangeable due to the principle of reciprocity, i.e.,the “transmitter” may be used as a “receiver”, and vice-versa.

Conventional electromagnetic logging tools employ non-directionaltransmitter and receiver antennas that do not have azimuthalsensitivity. In high angle or horizontal wells, measurements obtainedwith non-directional, antennas do not contain information about thedirectionality of the formation that allows distinguishing whether theborehole is approaching, e.g., a conductive layer from above or below.Such information is used in well placement applications. The loggingtools comprising a directional antenna (an antenna having azimuthalsensitivity) such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,508,616,6,163,155, 6,476,609. Such logging tools can provide a directionalmeasurement containing information about the directionality of theformation. It further provides more information used for variousformation evaluation applications.

One challenge of logging-while-drilling electromagnetic logging tools isto protect the antenna coil in order to withstand the demanding harshdownhole conditions. One design to protect the antenna known in priorart is to provide a portion of the collar as “necked-down”, by radiallyreducing the collar dimension to provide a deep and wide groove. Theantenna coil is wound about the reduced radial dimension area of thecollar, separated by an insulating layer from the surface of the reducedarea, and a slotted sleeve or shield is provided and secured in positionover the antenna coil. Various antenna designs of this type aredescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,536,714, 4,949,045, 6,297,639, and6,566,881.

Another design known in the prior art is to provide the antenna coildirectly in a pathway within a drill collar having grooves through thethickness of drill collar, without the slotted shield disposed about theantenna coil found in the first method described. The antenna coil inthe pathway exposed in the grooves is protected by a non-metallicmaterial disposed in the grooves, and the antenna coil in the pathwaybetween grooves is protected by the material of the drill collar throughwhich the pathway passes. Various antenna designs of this type aredescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,138,263, 5,530,358, 6,577,129, 7,057,392,7,414,407, and 7,839,149.

Various processing methods for generating measurements from datacollected by logging-while-drilling electromagnetic logging toolsincluding a directional antenna are described in U.S. Pat. Nos.7,382,135 and 8,195,400.

SUMMARY

In at least one aspect, the disclosure relates to an antenna assembly.The antenna assembly includes a tool body section with a longitudinalaxis, the tool body section having an external surface. In the externalsurface, a plurality of grooves of reduced radial dimension are spacedaround the tool body section. At least one of the plurality of groovesbeing oriented at a non-axial direction with respect to the longitudinalaxis of the tool body section. In the external surface, a plurality oflands of radial dimension similar or substantially flush to the externalsurface of the tool body section are provided, each land of theplurality of lands separating at least two adjacent grooves of theplurality of grooves. The antenna assembly also includes an antennapathway traversing the plurality of grooves and plurality of landsaround the tool body section. The antenna assembly also includes a coildisposed in the antenna pathway.

In at least one aspect, the disclosure relates to a method of obtaininga measurement in a borehole formed in a formation. The method includesdisposing a tool comprising a transmitter and a receiver in a borehole,at least one of the transmitter and receiver comprising an antennaassembly. The antenna assembly includes a tool body section with alongitudinal axis, the tool body section having an external surface. Inthe external surface, a plurality of grooves of reduced radial dimensionare spaced around the tool body section. At least one of the pluralityof grooves being oriented at a non-axial direction with respect to thelongitudinal axis of the tool body section. In the external surface, aplurality of lands of radial dimension similar or substantially flush tothe external surface of the tool body section are provided, each land ofthe plurality of lands separating at least two adjacent grooves of theplurality of grooves. The antenna assembly also includes an antennapathway traversing the plurality of grooves and plurality of landsaround the tool body section. The antenna assembly also includes a coildisposed in the antenna pathway. The method also includes selectivelytransmitting electromagnetic energy from the transmitter. The methodalso includes obtaining a plurality of data pairs associated with thetransmitted energy at the receiver.

In at least one aspect, the disclosure relates to a downhole measurementtool for obtaining data in a borehole. The downhole measurement toolincludes at least one transmitter deployed about a first tool bodysection and at least one receiver deployed about a second tool bodysection, the receiver being axially spaced from the transmitter. Atleast one of the transmitter and receiver is the antenna assemblydescribed above. The antenna assembly includes a tool body section witha longitudinal axis, the tool body section having an external surface.In the external surface, a plurality of grooves of reduced radialdimension are spaced around the tool body section. At least one of theplurality of grooves being oriented at a non-axial direction withrespect to the longitudinal axis of the tool body section. In theexternal surface, a plurality of lands of radial dimension similar orsubstantially flush to the external surface of the tool body section areprovided, each land of the plurality of lands separating at least twoadjacent grooves of the plurality of grooves. The antenna assembly alsoincludes an antenna pathway traversing the plurality of grooves andplurality of lands around the tool body section. The antenna assemblyalso includes a coil disposed in the antenna pathway.

In at least one aspect, the disclosure relates to a method. The methodcan include disposing a tool in a borehole disposed in a formation, thetool including at least one transmitter and at least one receiver. Atleast one of the transmitter and the receiver is a directional antenna.The transmitter and receiver are axially spaced relative to one another.The method can include acquiring in the borehole a plurality of datapairs, each data pair comprising a induced signal at the at least onereceiver and a corresponding toolface angle from among a total toolfacerange. The method can include calculating at least one area of aninduced signal function approximated by the plurality of data pairs togenerate a measurement characterizing the formation.

In at least one aspect, the disclosure relates to a downhole measurementtool. The downhole measurement tool includes a tool body having alongitudinal axis. The downhole measurement tool includes at least onetransmitting antenna deployed about the tool body. The downholemeasurement tool includes at least one receiving antenna deployed aboutthe tool body, the receiving antenna being axially spaced from thetransmitting antenna. At least one of the transmitting antenna and thereceiving antenna comprises a directional antenna. The downholemeasurement tool includes a controller configured to (i) cause the toolto acquire a plurality of data pairs while rotating in a subterraneanborehole, each data pair comprising an induced signal measurement and acorresponding toolface angle; and (ii) calculate downhole at least onearea of an induced signal function approximated by the plurality of datapairs to generate a measurement characterizing the formation.

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts that arefurther described below in the detailed description. This summary is notintended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subjectmatter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope ofthe claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of antennas, tools, and methods for directionalelectromagnetic well logging are described with reference to thefollowing figures. Like numbers are used throughout the figures toreference like features and components.

FIG. 1 is schematic of a drilling environment that may be used inconnection with various implementations of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing of an example electromagnetic logging toolin accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3A-3E provide side views of various antenna assemblies inaccordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, and FIG. 3F-3Gshow sectional views along the orientation of a groove and through aland, respectively.

FIG. 4 shows a flow chart of a method for acquiring data using anantenna assembly in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 shows a plot of an induced signal function approximated byconnecting discrete signal data points, as well as the four sub-sets ofthe area of the induced signal function, in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a plot of original simulated data points, re-calculateddata points in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention,and the exact signal of a sinusoidal form.

FIG. 7 shows a flow chart of a method for processing data obtained inaccordance with the present disclosure to generate measurements.

DEFINITIONS

As used here, the terms “up” and “down”; “upper” and “lower”; “upwardly”and downwardly”; “below” and “above”; and other similar terms indicatingrelative positions above or below a given point or element may be usedin connection with some implementations of various technologiesdescribed herein. However, when applied to equipment and methods for usein wells that are deviated or horizontal, or when applied to equipmentand methods that when arranged in a well are in a deviated or horizontalorientation, such terms may refer to a left to right, right to left, orother relationships as appropriate, where “up” is the position in atoolstring relatively more proximal to surface equipment, and “down” isthe position in the toolstring relatively more proximal to the bottomhole assembly.

“Axial” refers to a direction running substantially parallel to thelongitudinal axis of a downhole tool or housing.

“Non-axial” refers to a direction running at some angle not parallel tothe longitudinal axis of a downhole tool or housing, including anglesorthogonal as well as some angle less than ninety degrees.

“Induced Signal Function” refers to a signal induced at a receiver ofthe tool by the electromagnetic wave emitted at a transmitter of thetool, as a function of the toolface angle. In an embodiment of thepresent disclosure, the induced signal is measured at a discrete time,and the induced signal function is therefore approximately defined by aplurality of data pairs, each pair comprising an induced signal, and acorresponding toolface angle.

“Toolface angle” refers to the angular separation about thecircumference of the tool from a given direction to the radial directionof a reference point on a downhole tool.

“Total toolface range” refers to the 360 degree range that covers a fullor complete azimuthal rotation.

“Tool body section” refers to a portion of any tubular mechanicalsupport that is adapted to be moveable through a borehole, the portionbeing substantially local to the position of the antenna coil disposedthereon, such as, for example, a portion of any of a drill collar,segment of drill pipe, tool housing, or other wellbore tubular, havingan external surface and internal surface separated by a wall thickness,and the internal surface defining a central bore therethrough. Theoverall length of a tool may exceed the tool body section local to thecoil.

“Antenna pathway” refers to, in one or more grooves, at least the spaceoccupied by an antenna coil; and in one or more lands, the antennapathway refers to at least a space through which an antenna coil maypass.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, numerous details are set forth to providean understanding of the present disclosure. However, it will beunderstood by those skilled in the art that the present disclosure maybe practiced without these details and that numerous variations ormodifications from the described embodiments are possible.

The present disclosure describes various embodiments for antennaassemblies, each antenna coil being disposed about a tool body sectionin an antenna pathway. The antenna pathway passes through alternatinglands (having a similar or substantially flush outer diameter as thetool body section) and grooves (having a reduced outer diameter relativeto the tool body section, not passing completely through the thicknessof the tool body section). In each embodiment, at least one of thegrooves are disposed in the tool body section at a non-axial directionrelative to the longitudinal axis of the tool body section, that is, notparallel to the longitudinal axis of the tool body section. In anembodiment, the antenna coil is an axial coil, where the axis of thecoil is parallel to the axis of the tool body section, or a tilted coil,where the axis of the coil is not parallel to the axis of the tool bodysection. Additional grooves at axial angles or transverse angles may bedisposed on the tool body section. Magnetic permeable material, such asferrite, inserts may be disposed in the grooves. Each of the antennaassemblies disclosed may be employed in an electromagnetic logging toolfor providing directional measurements while drilling.

The present disclosure also describes methods of acquiring a pluralityof data pairs, each data pair comprising an induced signal at a receiverand a corresponding toolface angle using a tool including at least onedirectional antenna, such as a directional antenna assembly as describedherein. It further discloses a method to generate a measurementcontaining information about the directionality of the formation bycalculating at least one area of an induced signal function approximatedby the plurality of data pairs.

Hardware

FIG. 1 illustrates a drilling environment 100 that may be used inconnection with various implementations of the present disclosures. Inone implementation, the drilling environment 100 may include a drillingrig 10 positioned over a wellbore 11. A drilling tool assembly, whichmay include a drill string 12 and a drill bit 15 coupled to the lowerend of drill string 12, may be disposed in wellbore 11. Drill string 12and bit 15 may be rotated by a kelly 17 coupled to the upper end ofdrill string 12. The kelly 17 may be rotated by engagement with a rotarytable 16 disposed on the rig 10. The kelly 17 and the drill string 12may be suspended by a hook 18 coupled to the kelly 17 by a rotatableswivel 19.

Drilling fluid may be stored in a pit 27 and may be pumped through thecenter of drill string 12 by a mud pump 29 to flow downwardly (shown byarrow 9). After circulation through bit 15, the drilling fluid maycirculate upwardly (indicated by arrow 32) through an annular spacebetween wellbore 11 and drill string 12. Flow of the drilling mud maylubricate and cool bit 15 and lift drill cuttings made by bit 15 to thesurface for collection and disposal.

A bottom hole assembly (BHA) 110 may be connected to drill string 12.The bottom hole assembly 110 may include a stabilizer 140 and a drillcollar 130, which may be coupled to a local measuring device 120. Thebottom hole assembly 110 may also include a downhole communicationssystem 150, such as a pressure modulation (mud pulse) telemetry system.Pressure modulation telemetry can include various techniques forselectively modulating the flow (and consequently the pressure) of thedrilling mud. The drill string 12 can also (or alternatively) comprisewired drill pipes that support high-speed telemetry between the surfaceand downhole tools.

A transducer 31 disposed at the earth's surface may be configured todetect pressure variations and to conduct signals to an uplink telemetrysubsystem 90 for demodulation and interpretation. The demodulatedsignals may be forwarded to a processor 85 and a recorder 45 for furtherprocessing and/or storage. The surface equipment may optionally includea downlink telemetry subsystem 95, which may include a pressuremodulation transmitter (not detailed) that can modulate the pressure ofthe drilling mud circulating downwardly to communicate control signalsto the bottom hole assembly 110. It should be understood that the mudtelemetry described above is one example of a communication means. Othertelemetry systems known in the art may also be used.

The downhole communications system 150 may also include various types ofprocessors and controllers (not shown) for controlling the operation ofsensors disposed therein, for communicating command signals to the localmeasuring device 120, and for receiving and processing measurementstransmitted from the local measuring device 120. Sensors in bottom holeassembly 110 and/or downhole communications system 150 may includemagnetometers, accelerometers, gyrometers, and the like.

Various instruments disposed in the bottom hole assembly 110, thedownhole communications system 150, and the local measuring device 120may be referred to collectively as a logging-while-drilling (LWD) toolor measurement-while-drilling (MWD) tool. The bottom hole assembly 110,the processor 85, and/or the downhole communications system 150 mayinclude various forms of data storage or memory that can storemeasurements made by any or all of the sensors, including sensorsdisposed in the local measuring device 120, for later processing duringor after the drill string 12 is withdrawn from wellbore 11. In oneimplementation, the LWD or MWD tool may be a propagation resistivitytool. As such, the bottom hole assembly 110, the downhole communicationssystem 150, and the local measuring device 120 may be used to obtainwell log data obtained from various transmitter-receiver pairs (to bediscussed further below) and at multiple frequencies. Such data may becommunicated to the surface while the LWD or MWD tool is downhole orstored in the LWD or MWD tool for later readout.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example downhole tool for use as thelocal measuring device 120 of FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present disclosure. Starting at left of FIG. 2, various antennaassemblies (one or more of which may be in accordance with antennaassemblies described herein) are provided along the local measuringdevice 120 shown. Each antenna assembly may function as a transmitter orreceiver. At left, the local measuring device 120 is connected to thedrill collar 130 as shown in FIG. 1. A first antenna assembly T1 21functions as a first transmitter. Adjacent to T1 21 is positioned asecond antenna assembly T2 22, functioning as a second transmitter.Axially spaced apart from T2 22 are positioned one or more antennaassemblies. As shown, a third antenna assembly R1 23 is positioned andis functional as a receiver, with a fourth antenna assembly R2 24functional as a receiver, coupled to a fifth antenna assembly T3 25functional as a transmitter. Axially spaced apart from T3 are positioneda sixth antenna assembly T4 26 functional as a transmitter and a seventhantenna assembly R3 28 functional as a receiver. At the right, the localmeasuring device 120 is connected to a next proximate section of drillcollar 130 and on to the drill bit 15.

As is well known, antenna assemblies in general may function asreceiver, transmitter, or both, being referred to as a transceiver, andthus the example presented here is intended only as a representativeexample, and various other combinations of receivers, transmitters,and/or transceivers are presently contemplated. For example, the loggingtool may be implemented with multiple modules, with one or moretransmitter antenna assemblies deployed on one module, transmittingelectromagnetic energy to be received by one or more receiver antennaassemblies deployed on a different module. The modules of the tool areremovably joined to one another, or to an intervening module or set ofmodules, which may be other tools in the tool string. At least one ofthe transmitter and receiver antenna assemblies is in accordance withantenna assemblies described herein. Additional transmitters and/orreceivers (not shown) may be provided adjacent to the antenna assembliesshown FIG. 2 as well.

In a particular embodiment of the downhole tool of FIG. 2, T1 21comprises a non-directional antenna, while T2 22 comprises a directionalantenna, such as one of the antenna assembly embodiments presented here.In an embodiment, R1 23 comprises a non-directional antenna, R2 24comprises a non-directional antenna, and T3 25 comprises a directionalantenna, such as one of the antenna assembly embodiments presented here.In an embodiment, T4 26 comprises a non-directional antenna, and R3 28comprises a directional antenna, such as one of the antenna assemblyembodiments presented here. Optionally, additional transmitters and/orreceivers may also be disposed in the local measuring device 120, invarious positions, and used in combination with the transmitters andreceivers shown.

In a particular embodiment of the local measuring device 120 of FIG. 2,the spacing between adjacent antenna assemblies may range from aboutfifteen (15) cm to about forty five (45) cm. In a particular embodimentof FIG. 2, the spacing between some adjacent antenna assemblies (21 and22, 22 and 23, 24 and 25, 25 and 26, and 26 and 28) may be forty (40)cm, while the spacing between some adjacent antenna assemblies 23 and 24(such as those used as receivers) may be about twenty (20) cm to abouttwenty-five (25) cm. In other embodiments, the spacing between adjacentantenna assemblies may span larger or smaller distances.

FIG. 3A-3E provide side views of various directional antenna assembliesin accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. In each of theembodiments of the antenna assembly, a tool body section 12-1 isprovided, defined having a longitudinal axis 341 running length-wise.Turning to FIG. 3A, the tool body section 12-1 has an external surface12-2, into which are disposed a plurality of grooves such as 342. Eachof the grooves 342 has a reduced radial dimension relative to theexternal surface 12-2 of the tool body section 12-1. The grooves 342 arespaced around the tool body section 12-1. Between neighboring grooves342, a land 344 is disposed, each land 344 having a radial dimensionlarger than that of each of the neighboring grooves and similar orsubstantially flush to that of the external surface 12-2 of the toolbody section 12-1. In each embodiment described below, at least one ofthe grooves 342 is oriented at a non-axial direction with respect to thelongitudinal axis 341 of the tool body section 12-1. An antenna pathway347 (shown by dashed line in FIG. 3E) traverses the plurality of grooves342 and plurality of lands 344 around the tool body section 12-1. Theantenna pathway 347 passes through the lands 344, and a portion (orportions) of the space in each of the grooves that allows passage of acoil 340, which may comprise one or multiple turns, and may benon-planar.

FIG. 3A shows an embodiment of a first antenna assembly 300A, intendedto show relative positioning of the grooves and coil. A tool bodysection 12-1 has an external surface 12-2, and having a longitudinalaxis 341. Specifically, six grooves 342 and two grooves 346 are disposedin the external surface 12-2, shown here as rectangular, but may be ofany geometrical shape such as quadrilateral or otherwise elongated inshape. Each groove 342, 346 is defined by two sides, a top and a bottom,which may be optionally rounded off. Each groove 342, 346 also has adepth, which may be a portion of the thickness of the tool body section12-1. The depth may be, for example, uniform, graduated, or rounded. Theorientation of each groove 342, 346 refers to the direction in which thegroove 342, 346 is elongated. In the most simplified terms, each groove342, 346 acts as a magnetic dipole oriented the same orientation as theelongation of the groove 342, 346, respectively.

As shown, the six grooves 342 are oriented at a non-axial directionrelative to the longitudinal axis 341, while two grooves 346 areoriented in the axial direction relative to the longitudinal axis 341. Atilted coil 340A is positioned in an antenna pathway, passing throughthe alternating grooves 342 and grooves 346, where the coil is shown insolid curve, and lands 344, where the coil is shown in dashed curve. Theantenna pathway can be formed by machining out a portion of each land344, and subsequently welding each land 344 to the tool body section12-1 before or after the coil(s) 340A are wound. The antenna pathway canalso be formed by machining out a portion of each land 344, andsubsequently covering the antenna coil with a cover part, preferablyhaving similar electromagnetic properties to the material of the toolbody section 12-1, over the coil for each land 344 after the coil 340Ais wound. The addition of the cover part restores the overall radialdimension of the land. In one embodiment, the antenna pathway can alsobe formed by machining out a portion of each land 344, and subsequentlyfilling each machined-out-portion with a non-metallic protectivematerial, such as fiber glass or epoxy, to restore the overall dimensionof the land after the coil 340A is wound. Alternatively, the antennapathway may be drilled or punched through each land. In an embodiment,the antenna pathway in the lands 344 is preferably minimized to allowthe antenna coil to pass therethrough without additional void spaceremaining around the antenna coil, and optionally, if void space ispresent, the void space may be sealed with a non-metallic filler, suchas fiberglass or epoxy. In an embodiment, the non-axially orientedgrooves 342 are oriented substantially perpendicular to the coil 340A.

In one embodiment, a non-metallic protective material, such as fiberglass or epoxy, is disposed in each groove when the coil 340A is inplace, substantially filling the remaining space of the groove to alevel flush with the external surface of each neighboring land 344.

In one embodiment, a magnetic permeable material insert (not shown inFIG. 3A) may be optionally disposed in each groove such that the insertis under the coil 340A when the coil 340A is placed about the tool bodysection 12-1. The magnetic permeable material may, for example, be aferrite material.

In one embodiment, the two axial grooves 346 can be removed from FIG.3A. On the other hand, the removal of non-axial grooves 342 orreplacement of non-axial grooves 342 with axial grooves from FIG. 3Awill result in a non-directional antenna assembly.

FIG. 3B shows an embodiment of a second antenna assembly 300B, intendedto show relative positioning of the grooves and coil. A cylindrical toolbody section 12-1 has an external surface 12-2, and has a longitudinalaxis 341. Six grooves 342 and two grooves 346 are disposed in theexternal surface 12-2, shown here as rectangular, but may be of anygeometrical shape such as quadrilateral or otherwise elongated in shape.Each groove 342, 346 is defined by two sides, a top and a bottom, whichmay be optionally rounded off. Each groove 342 also has a depth, whichmay be a portion of the thickness of the tool body section 12-1. Thedepth may be, for example, uniform, graduated, or rounded. Theorientation of each groove 342, 346 refers to the direction in which thegroove 342, 346 is elongated. In the most simplified terms, each groove342, 346 acts as a magnetic dipole oriented the same orientation as thegroove 342, 346. As shown, grooves 342 are oriented at a non-axialdirection relative to the longitudinal axis 341, while two grooves 346are oriented in the axial direction relative to the longitudinal axis341. An axial coil 340B is positioned in an antenna pathway (not shown),passing through the alternating grooves 342, where the coil 340B isshown in solid curve, and lands 344, where the coil is shown in dashedcurve. The non-axially oriented grooves 342 are oriented at an angle tothe coil 340B.

As above, the antenna pathway can be formed by machining out a portionof each land 344, and subsequently welding each land 344 to the toolbody section 12-1 before or after the coil(s) 340B are wound. Theantenna pathway can also be formed by machining out a portion of eachland 344, and subsequently covering the antenna coil with a cover part,preferably having similar electromagnetic properties to the material ofthe tool body section 12-1 over the coil for each land 344 after thecoil 340B is wound. The addition of the cover part restores the overallradial dimension of the land. In one embodiment, the antenna pathway canalso be formed by machining out a portion of each land, and subsequentlyfilling each machined-out-portion with a non-metallic protectivematerial, such as fiber glass or epoxy, to restore the overall radialdimension of the land after the coil 340B is wound. Alternatively, theantenna pathway may be drilled or punched through each land. In anembodiment, the antenna pathway in the lands 344 is preferably minimizedto allow the antenna coil to pass therethrough without additional voidspace remaining around the antenna coil, and optionally, if void spaceis present, the void space may be sealed with a non-metallic filler,such as fiberglass or epoxy.

In one embodiment, a non-metallic protective material, such as fiberglass or epoxy, is disposed in each groove when the coil 340B is inplace, substantially filling the remaining space of the groove to alevel flush with the external surface of each neighboring land 344. Inone embodiment, a magnetic permeable material insert may be disposed ineach groove such that the insert is under the coil 340B when the coil340B is placed about the tool body section 12-1. The magnetic permeablematerial may, for example, be a ferrite material.

In one embodiment, the two axial grooves 346 can optionally be removedin FIG. 3B. On the other hand, the removal of non-axial grooves 342 orreplacement of non-axial grooves 342 with axial grooves from FIG. 3Bwill result in a non-directional antenna assembly.

FIG. 3C shows an embodiment of a third antenna assembly 300C, intendedto show relative positioning of the grooves and coil. A cylindrical toolbody section 12-1 has an external surface 12-2, and has a longitudinalaxis 341. Six grooves are disposed in the external surface 12-2, shownhere as rectangular, but may be of any geometrical shape such asquadrilateral or otherwise elongated in shape. Each groove 343, 346 isdefined by two sides, a top and a bottom, which may be optionallyrounded off. Each groove 343, 346 also has a depth, which may be aportion of the thickness of the tool body section 12-1. The depth maybe, for example, uniform, graduated, or rounded. The orientation of eachgroove 343, 346 refers to the direction in which the groove 343, 346 iselongated. In the most simplified terms, each groove 343, 346 acts as amagnetic dipole oriented the same orientation as the groove 343, 346. Asshown, four of the grooves 343 are oriented orthogonally relative to thelongitudinal axis 341. Two of the grooves 346 are oriented axiallyrelative to the longitudinal axis 341. A tilted coil 340C is positionedin an antenna pathway, passing through the alternating grooves 342,where the coil is shown in solid curve, and lands 344, where the coil isshown in dashed curve.

As above, the antenna pathway can be formed by machining out a portionof each land 344, and subsequently welding each land 344 to the toolbody section 12-1 before or after the coil(s) 340C are wound. Theantenna pathway can also be formed by machining out a portion of eachland 344, and subsequently covering the antenna coil with a cover part,preferably having similar electromagnetic properties to the material ofthe tool body section 12-1 over the coil for each land 344 after thecoil 340C is wound. The addition of the cover part restores the overallradial dimension of the land. In one embodiment, the antenna pathway canalso be formed by machining out a portion of each land 344, andsubsequently filling each machined-out-portion with a non-metallicprotective material, such as fiber glass or epoxy, to restore theoverall radial dimension of the land after the coil 340C is wound.Alternatively, the antenna pathway may be drilled or punched througheach land. In an embodiment, the antenna pathway in the lands 344 ispreferably minimized to allow the antenna coil to pass therethroughwithout additional void space remaining around the antenna coil, andoptionally, if void space is present, the void space may be sealed witha non-metallic filler, such as fiberglass or epoxy.

In one embodiment, a non-metallic protective material, such as fiberglass or epoxy, is disposed in each groove when the coil 340C is inplace, substantially filling the remaining space of the groove to alevel flush with the external surface of each neighboring land 344. Inone embodiment, a magnetic permeable material insert may be disposed ineach groove such that the insert is under the coil 340C when the coil340C is placed about the tool body section 12-1. The magnetic permeablematerial may, for example, be a ferrite material.

In one embodiment, the two axial grooves 346 can be removed from FIG.3C.

FIG. 3D shows an embodiment of a fourth antenna assembly 300D, intendedto show relative positioning of the grooves and coil. A cylindrical toolbody section 12-1 has an external surface 12-2, and has a longitudinalaxis 341. Six grooves are disposed in the external surface 12-2, shownhere as rectangular, but may be of any geometrical shape such asquadrilateral or otherwise elongated in shape. Each groove 343, 346 isdefined by two sides, a top and a bottom, which may be optionallyrounded off. Each groove 343, 346 also has a depth, which may be aportion of the thickness of the tool body section 12-1. The depth maybe, for example, uniform, graduated, or rounded. The orientation of eachgroove 342, 346 refers to the direction in which the groove 342, 346 iselongated. In the most simplified terms, each groove 343, 346 acts as amagnetic dipole oriented the same orientation as the groove 343, 346.

As shown, four of the grooves 343 are oriented orthogonally relative tothe longitudinal axis 341. Two of the grooves 346 are oriented axiallyrelative to the longitudinal axis 341. A segmented coil 340D ispositioned in an antenna pathway, passing through the alternatinggrooves 343 and 346. The antenna pathway can be formed by machining outa part from each land 344, and (optionally) by subsequently welding eachland 344 to the tool body section 12-1 before or after the coil(s) 340Aare wound, or other means.

As above, the antenna pathway can also be formed by machining out aportion of each land 344, and subsequently covering the antenna coilwith a cover part, preferably having similar electromagnetic propertiesto the material of the tool body section 12-1 over the coil for eachland 344 after the coil 340D is wound. The addition of the cover partrestores the overall radial dimension of the land. In one embodiment,the antenna pathway can also be formed by machining out a portion ofeach land 344, and subsequently filling each machined-out-portion with anon-metallic protective material, such as fiber glass or epoxy, torestore the overall radial dimension of the land after the coil 340D iswound. Alternatively, the antenna pathway may be drilled or punchedthrough each land. In an embodiment, the antenna pathway in the lands344 is preferably minimized to allow the antenna coil to passtherethrough without additional void space remaining around the antennacoil, and optionally, if void space is present, the void space may besealed with a non-metallic filler, such as fiberglass or epoxy.

In one embodiment, a non-metallic protective material, such as fiberglass or epoxy, is disposed in each groove when the coil 340D is inplace, substantially filling the remaining space of the groove to alevel flush with the external surface of each neighboring land 344. Inone embodiment, a magnetic permeable material insert may be disposed ineach groove such that the insert is under the coil 340D when the coil340D is placed about the tool body section 12-1. The permeable materialmay, for example, be a ferrite material.

In one embodiment, the two axial grooves 346 can be removed from FIG.3D.

FIG. 3E shows a side view of an antenna assembly in accordance with theembodiment shown in FIG. 3B. The external surface 12-2 of the tool bodysection 12-1 is shown. A plurality of grooves oriented at a non-axialdirection are disposed around the external surface 12-2 of the tool bodysection 12-1, with the grooves being defined by regions of reducedradial dimensions and alternating land members. The sides of each groove342 appears having a flat surface in FIG. 3E, however, one of skill inthe art would appreciate that depending on the details of the grooveconstruction, either side of the groove may be represented by a curvedsurface. An antenna pathway 347 (outlined by the two dashed lines inFIG. 3E) is formed by machining out a portion of each land 344. An axialantenna coil 340B is positioned in the antenna pathway 347, passingthrough the alternating grooves and lands. FIG. 3E illustrates clearlythat the grooves orientation, being at a non-axial direction withrespect to the longitudinal axis of the tool body section 12-1, isclearly distinguished from a groove orientation running parallel withrespect to the longitudinal axis 341 of the tool body section 12-1.

In an embodiment, for example, not having axial grooves, but two sets ofnon-axial grooves, a land segment between the sets of non-axial groovesis present, which has different dimension than the lands that arebetween adjacent grooves in the same set. This is illustrated by theembodiment of FIG. 3E on a single tool body section 12-1.

FIG. 3F is a sectional view through a single groove 342 with coil 340passing therethrough, along the orientation of the groove 342. Anon-metallic protective material 349, such as fiber glass or epoxy, isdisposed in each groove filling the remaining space of the groove to alevel substantially flush with the external surface of the neighboringlands. The coil 340 appears having a circular shape in FIG. 3F, however,one of skill in the art would appreciate that depending on theorientation of a particular groove 342 and/or the shape of wire of thecoil 340 itself, the coil 340 may also be represented by an ellipticalshape. Furthermore, the coil 340 appears having one turn of conductorwire in FIG. 3F, however, one of skill in the art would appreciate thatthe coil 340 may be formed of more than one turns of conductor wire.

As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 3F, a magnetic permeable materialinsert 348 may be disposed in each groove such that the insert 348 isunder the coil 340 when the coil 340 is placed about the tool bodysection 12-1. The magnetic permeable material may, for example, be aferrite material.

FIG. 3G is a sectional view through a land 344 along the orientation ofa neighboring groove 342. The antenna passes through an antenna pathway347, which is formed by machining a portion out of the land 344. In FIG.3G, the sectional view of the antenna pathway 347 in the land 344appears sloped at an angle, however, one of skill in the art wouldappreciate that other embodiments with an antenna pathway formed indifferent orientations and shapes are possible. A non-metallicprotective material 349, such as fiber glass or epoxy, is disposed inany remaining space of the antenna pathway to a level substantiallyflush with the external surface of the land. The coil 340 appears havinga circular shape in FIG. 3G, however, one of skill in the art wouldappreciate that depending on the orientation of the section of aparticular land 344 and/or the shape of wire of the coil 340 itself, thecoil 340 may also be represented by an elliptical shape. Furthermore,the antenna pathway 347, as shown in the figure, is illustrated asformed by machining a single portion out of the land with the coil 340having one turn of conductor wire disposed in it in FIG. 3G. However,one of skill in the art will appreciate that the antenna pathway may beformed by machining multiple portions out of the land, with adjacentportions axially spaced apart from one another, and with one or moreturns of conductor wire disposed in each of the multiple portions of theantenna pathway.

Method

Turning now to a discussion of methods carried out using the hardwaredescribed above, FIG. 4 shows a flow chart of a method for acquiringdata using an antenna assembly in accordance with the presentdisclosure.

A method of acquiring data in a borehole formed in a formation includesdisposing 460 a tool comprising at least one transmitter and at leastone receiver in a borehole. At least one of the transmitter(s) orreceiver(s) will be one of the antenna assembly embodiments disclosedherein and described with reference to FIG. 3A-3G, having at least oneof the plurality of grooves in the tool body section being oriented at anon-axial direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the toolbody section. The method can include spacing the transmitter axiallyapart from the receiver, as described with respect to FIG. 2. The methodcan include azimuthally rotating the tool in the borehole, and forexample, while drilling.

The method can include selectively 462 transmitting electromagneticenergy from the transmitter. The method can include obtaining 464 aplurality of data pairs associated with the transmitted energy at thereceiver (which, upon processing, can generate a directionalmeasurement). The method can optionally include using the directionalmeasurement to alter (or alternatively, confirm) a drilling plan. Themethod can optionally include using the directional measurement todetermine a direction to a formation boundary, a distance to theformation boundary, and/or relative resistivity on opposing sides of theformation boundary.

Turning now to a data processing method, a directional downhole tool(such as that shown in FIG. 2) comprises at least two antennas, onebeing a non-directional antenna and the other being a directionalantenna such as those disclosed in the present disclosure. One antennais used as a transmitter transmitting electromagnetic field at, e.g.,100 kHz, and or 400 kHz and or 2 MHz, and the other antenna is used as areceiver. The induced signal function V(φ) at the receiver can bewritten according to an equation of the form:V(φ)=V ₀ +V _(1c)*cos φ+V _(1s)*sin φ  Eq. (1)where φ is the toolface angle. In the real situation, it is a discretefunction approximated by a plurality of data pairs, each pair comprisinga induced signal at each discrete time, and a corresponding toolfaceangle measured, for example, by a magnetometer, an accelerometer, orlike device at the same time as the induced signal is measured. It isexpected that within a short time interval V₀, V_(1c), and V_(1s) whichare termed 0^(th) and 1^(st) harmonic coefficients, that are in generallinear combinations of various components of the induced magneticfields, which are tensors, and contain information of the formationaround the borehole, will remain relatively constant. During this timeinterval there can be a plurality of the induced signals and toolfaceangles measured. The present method is directed toward calculatingcoefficients V₀, V_(1c), and V_(1s) from the plurality of the datapairs, each pair comprising an induced signal, and a correspondingtoolface angle.The coefficients can be calculated based on the following mathematicalequations:

$\begin{matrix}{\mspace{79mu}{V_{0} = \frac{\int_{0}^{2\;\pi}{{V(\varphi)}*\ d\;\varphi}}{2\;\pi}}} & {{Eq}.\mspace{14mu}\left( {2a} \right)} \\{V_{1\; c} = \frac{{\int_{0}^{\frac{\pi}{2}}{{V(\varphi)}*\ d\;\varphi}} + {\int_{\frac{3\;\pi}{2}}^{2\;\pi}{{V(\varphi)}*\ d\;\varphi}} - {\int_{\frac{\pi}{2}}^{\frac{3\;\pi}{2}}{{V(\varphi)}*\ d\;\varphi}}}{4}} & {{Eq}.\mspace{14mu}\left( {2b} \right)} \\{\mspace{79mu}{V_{1\; s} = \frac{{\int_{0}^{\pi}{{V(\varphi)}*\ d\;\varphi}} - {\int_{\pi}^{2\;\pi}{{V(\varphi)}*\ d\;\varphi}}}{4}}} & {{Eq}.\mspace{14mu}\left( {2c} \right)}\end{matrix}$

Equations 2a, 2b, and 2c indicate that the area defined by the inducedsignal function across the total toolface range can be divided into anumber of sub-sets (such as, for example, four sub-sets) according totoolface values, such as, for example: [0, π/2], [π/2, π], [π, 3π/2],and [3π/2, 2π]. The signed areas of these sub-sets are referred toherein as Area1, Area2, Area3, and Area4. Coefficients V₀, V_(1c), andV_(1s) can then be obtained by calculating (such as, for example, bydiscrete integration) the areas of the sub-sets as follows:

$\begin{matrix}{V_{0} = \frac{{{Area}\mspace{14mu} 1} + {{Area}\mspace{14mu} 2} + {{Area}\mspace{14mu} 3} + {{Area}\mspace{14mu} 4}}{2\;\pi}} & {{Eq}.\mspace{14mu}\left( {3a} \right)} \\{V_{1\; c} = \frac{{{Area}\mspace{14mu} 1} - {{Area}\mspace{14mu} 2} - {{Area}\mspace{14mu} 3} + {{Area}\mspace{14mu} 4}}{4}} & {{Eq}.\mspace{14mu}\left( {3b} \right)} \\{V_{1\; s} = \frac{{{Area}\mspace{14mu} 1} + {{Area}\mspace{14mu} 2} - {{Area}\mspace{14mu} 3} - {{Area}\mspace{14mu} 4}}{4}} & {{Eq}.\mspace{14mu}\left( {3c} \right)}\end{matrix}$

FIG. 5 shows a plot 500 of an induced signal function approximated by asignal curve 549 by connecting discrete signal data points 548. Thesignal data points are original simulated with a random noise added tothe exact induced signal function plotted as a curve 656 in FIG. 6. Asmany as four signal data points (at 0, π/2, π, 3π/2, and 2π) may beadded, if not already presented in the original simulated data points,via interpolations. The area of the signal curve 549 can be dividedbased upon toolface angle into a number of sub-sets (in the example,four sub-sets 550, 551, 552, and 553 representing four sub-sets oftoolface angles). The signed area, which will be simply referred to as“area” for short hereafter, for each sub-set can be calculated using anintegration method, such as the trapezoidal method, to obtain thecoefficients according to the mathematical equations above. With thecoefficient values, one can combine the 0^(th) harmonic coefficient andthe 1^(st) harmonic coefficients linearly to generate measurements used,for example, for well placement, or geosteering, and formationevaluation applications. Though four sub-sets of the induced signalfunction are shown in FIG. 5, it is also contemplated that fewersub-sets or greater sub-sets could render a coefficient result usefulfor similar purposes.

FIG. 6 shows a plot 600 with original simulated signal data points,re-calculated signal data points in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention, and the exact signal which is a sinusoidal curve,shown for comparison. The re-calculated data points 658 are generatedfrom Eq. (1) by using the calculated V₀, V_(1c), and V_(1s) from Eq.(3). As seen in the plot, the re-calculated data points are a moreaccurate representation of the exact signal than the original simulateddata points. This demonstrates that the calculated V₀, V_(1c), andV_(1s) from Eq. (3) can provide an accurate representation of the exactsignal.

If both transmitter and receiver are directional antennas such as thosedisclosed in the present invention above, Eq. (1) will need to beextended to add two second harmonic terms V_(2c)*cos(2φ)+V_(2s)*sin(2φ),with V_(2c) and V_(2s) being termed 2^(nd) harmonic coefficients, whichare in general linear combinations various components of the inducedmagnetic fields and contain information of the formation around theborehole. The method described above can be generalized to calculate thesecond harmonics coefficients. The area of the induced signal functionis divided into 8 sub-sets according to the toolface angle: [0, π/4],[π/4, π/2], [π/2, 3π/4], [3π/4, π], [π, 5π/4], [5π/4, 3π/2], [3π/2,7/4π], and [7/4π, 2π], and the area of each sub-set is referred to asArea1_1, Area1_2, Area2_1, Area2_2, Area3_1, Area3_2, Area4_1 andArea4_2. Then, accordingly, V_(2c) and V_(2s) can be calculated from the8 areas of the sub-sets as follow:

$\begin{matrix}{V_{2\; c} = \frac{\begin{matrix}\left( {{{Area}\mspace{14mu} 1\_ 1} - {{Area}\mspace{14mu} 1\_ 2} - {{Area}\mspace{14mu} 2\_ 1} + {{Area}\mspace{14mu} 2\_ 2} +} \right. \\\left. {{{Area}\mspace{14mu} 3\_ 1} - {{Area}\mspace{14mu} 3\_ 2} - {{Area}\mspace{14mu} 4\_ 1} + {{Area}\mspace{14mu} 4\_ 2}} \right)\end{matrix}}{4}} & {{Eq}.\mspace{14mu}\left( {4a} \right)} \\{V_{2\; s} = \frac{\begin{matrix}\left( {{{Area}\mspace{14mu} 1\_ 1} + {{Area}\mspace{14mu} 1\_ 2} - {{Area}\mspace{14mu} 2\_ 1} - {{Area}\mspace{14mu} 2\_ 2} +} \right. \\\left. {{{Area}\mspace{14mu} 3\_ 1} + {{Area}\mspace{14mu} 3\_ 2} - {{Area}\mspace{14mu} 4\_ 1} + {{Area}\mspace{14mu} 4\_ 2}} \right)\end{matrix}}{4}} & {{Eq}.\mspace{14mu}\left( {4b} \right)}\end{matrix}$

As above, one can combine the 0^(th) harmonic coefficient, 1^(st)harmonic coefficients, and the 2^(nd) harmonic coefficients linearly togenerate measurements, for example, for well placement and formationevaluation applications.

FIG. 7 shows a flow chart of a method 700 for processing data obtainedin accordance with the present disclosure to produce measurements. Themethod for processing data can include disposing 770 a downhole tool ina borehole. In an embodiment, the downhole tool includes at least onetransmitter and at least one receiver in a borehole disposed in aformation. At least one of the transmitter(s) and receiver(s) is adirectional antenna. In an embodiment, at least one of thetransmitter(s) and receiver(s) is an antenna assembly according to thepresent disclosure. The method continues with rotating 772 the downholetool in the borehole through a plurality of toolface values.

The method can include acquiring 774 in the borehole a plurality of datapairs to approximate an induced signal function. In an embodiment, eachdata pair includes an induced signal at the at least one receiver and acorresponding toolface angle from among the total toolface range. One ormore data pairs may be added via interpolation using some of theacquired data pairs so that the toolface angles span the total toolfacerange. The method can include calculating 776 at least one area of theinduced signal function to generate a measurement characterizing theformation.

The method can include dividing the total toolface range into aplurality of sub-sets, and calculating, for each sub-set of the totaltoolface range, the area of the induced signal function to generate ameasurement characterizing the formation.

In an embodiment, the plurality of sub-sets is four sub-sets. In anembodiment, the plurality of sub-sets is eight sub-sets. In anembodiment, the plurality of sub-sets span equal ranges of toolfaceangles.

The measurement includes a linear combination of the areas of theplurality of sub-sets of the induced signal function.

The measurement includes a magnitude ratio or a phase difference betweentwo different linear combinations of the areas of the plurality ofsub-sets of the induced signal function.

The measurement includes a 0^(th) harmonic coefficient of the inducedsignal, one or more 1^(st) harmonic coefficients of the induced signal,and one or more 2^(nd) harmonic coefficients of the induced signal.

In an embodiment, the calculating comprises a trapezoidal integrationmethod.

In an embodiment, the method can include linearly combining a 0^(th)harmonic coefficient, one or more 1^(st) harmonic coefficients and, ifdetermined, one or more 2^(nd) harmonic coefficients.

In an embodiment, the method can include a magnitude ratio or a phasedifference between two different linear combinations of the 0^(th)harmonic coefficient, the 1^(st) harmonic coefficient and, ifdetermined, the 2^(nd) harmonic coefficients.

The method can optionally include using the measurement characterizingthe formation, for example, for geosteering and formation evaluation.

In an embodiment, the directional transmitter is selected from any ofthe antenna assembly designs described above with respect to FIG. 3A-3G.In an embodiment, the directional receiver is selected from any of theantenna assembly designs described above with respect to FIG. 3A-3G. Instill another embodiment, both the transmitter and the receiver areselected from any of the antenna assembly designs described above withrespect to FIG. 3A-3G.

Although a few example embodiments have been described in detail above,those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modificationsare possible in the example embodiments without materially departingfrom this disclosure. Accordingly, such modifications are intended to beincluded within the scope of this disclosure as defined in the followingclaims. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to coverthe structures described herein as performing the recited function andnot simply structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures. Thus,although a nail and a screw may not be structural equivalents in that anail employs a cylindrical surface to secure wooden parts together,whereas a screw employs a helical surface, in the environment offastening wooden parts, a nail and a screw may be equivalent structures.It is the express intention of the applicant not to invoke 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6 for any limitations of any of the claims herein, exceptfor those in which the claim expressly uses the words ‘means for’together with an associated function.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: disposing a tool having areceiver in a borehole penetrating a formation, the receiver having atool body section having a longitudinal axis, an external surface, andan internal surface; and a plurality of grooves spaced around andembedded in the tool body section, wherein the grooves are of reducedradial dimension relative to the external surface but do not penetratethe internal surface, at least one of the grooves being oriented at afirst direction and at least one of the grooves being oriented at asecond direction, wherein the first direction is not the same as thesecond direction; performing on a processor the steps of: acquiring aplurality of data pairs using the tool, each data pair comprising aninduced signal at the receiver and a corresponding toolface angle fromamong a toolface angle range; calculating one or more areas using theplurality of data pairs; generating a measurement characterizing theformation using the calculated one or more areas; determining one ormore formation parameters using the generated measurement characterizingthe formation; and altering or confirming a drilling plan using the oneor more determined formation parameters; wherein the calculating one ormore areas comprises: calculating a total area spanned by a toolfaceangle range of 2π radians; calculating a plurality of areas spanned by acommon toolface angle range using different starting angles, wherein thecommon toolface angle range is π/2 radians or π radians; and determiningone or more extrema of the calculated plurality of areas.
 2. The methodof claim 1, wherein the one or more determined formation parameters areselected from the group consisting of a direction to a formationboundary, a distance to the formation boundary, and relativeresistivities on opposite sides of the formation boundary.
 3. The methodof claim 1, wherein the generating a measurement comprises using amagnitude ratio of or a phase difference between the area of any one ofthe determined extrema and a remaining area calculated by subtractingthe area of the particular determined extremum from the calculated totalarea.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating a measurementcomprises using a magnitude ratio of or a phase difference between twodifferent linear combinations of the area of any one of the determinedextrema and the calculated total area.
 5. The method of claim 1, whereinthe generating a measurement comprises using the starting angle thatcorresponds to one of the determined extrema.
 6. The method of claim 1,wherein the calculating is performed downhole.
 7. The method of claim 1,further comprising using the measurement to perform an applicationselected from the group consisting of formation evaluation, wellplacement, and geosteering.
 8. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: dividing the toolface angle range into a plurality of anglerange subsets; calculating, for each angle range subset, an areacorresponding to that subset; and wherein the generating the measurementcharacterizing the formation further comprises using one or more of thecalculated corresponding areas.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein theplurality of subsets spans equal ranges of toolface angles.
 10. Themethod of claim 8, wherein the measurement comprises a magnitude ratioof or a phase difference between two different functions of thecorresponding areas of the plurality of subsets.
 11. The method of claim1, wherein the measurement comprises a magnitude or a phase of any oneof the calculated one or more areas.
 12. The method of claim 1, whereinthe measurement comprises a magnitude ratio of or a phase differencebetween two different functions of harmonic coefficients selected fromthe group consisting of a 0_(th) harmonic coefficient, one or more1_(st) harmonic coefficients, and one or more 2_(nd) harmoniccoefficients.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiver comprisesa directional antenna.
 14. The method of claim 1, further comprising: aplurality of lands spaced around the tool body section, each land of theplurality of lands separating at least two adjacent grooves of theplurality of grooves; an antenna pathway traversing the plurality ofgrooves and the plurality of lands around the tool body section; and acoil disposed in the antenna pathway.
 15. The method of claim 1, whereinthe tool further comprises a transmitter.
 16. The method of claim 15,wherein the transmitter comprises: a tool body section having alongitudinal axis, an external surface, and an internal surface; and aplurality of grooves spaced around and embedded in the tool bodysection, wherein the grooves are of reduced radial dimension relative tothe external surface but do not penetrate the internal surface, at leastone of the grooves being oriented at a first direction and at least oneof the grooves being oriented at a second direction, wherein the firstdirection is not the same as the second direction.
 17. The method ofclaim 16, further comprising: a plurality of lands spaced around thetool body section, each land of the plurality of lands separating atleast two adjacent grooves of the plurality of grooves; an antennapathway traversing the plurality of grooves and the plurality of landsaround the tool body section; and a coil disposed in the antennapathway.
 18. An apparatus, comprising: a downhole tool having areceiver, wherein the receiver comprises: a tool body section having alongitudinal axis, an external surface, and an internal surface; and aplurality of grooves spaced around and embedded in the tool bodysection, wherein the grooves are of reduced radial dimension relative tothe external surface but do not penetrate the internal surface, at leastone of the grooves being oriented at a first direction and at least oneof the grooves being oriented at a second direction, wherein the firstdirection is not the same as the second direction; and a processorcapable of: acquiring a plurality of data pairs using the tool, eachdata pair comprising an induced signal at the receiver and acorresponding toolface angle from among a toolface angle range;calculating one or more areas using the plurality of data pairs;generating a measurement characterizing the formation using thecalculated one or more areas; determining one or more formationparameters using the generated measurement characterizing the formation;and altering or confirming a drilling plan using the one or moredetermined formation parameters; wherein the calculating one or moreareas comprises: calculating a total area spanned by a toolface anglerange of 2π radians; calculating a plurality of areas spanned by acommon toolface angle range using different starting angles, wherein thecommon toolface angle range is π/2 radians or π radians; and determiningone or more extrema of the calculated plurality of areas.
 19. Theapparatus of claim 18, further comprising: a plurality of lands spacedaround the tool body section, each land of the plurality of landsseparating at least two adjacent grooves of the plurality of grooves; anantenna pathway traversing the plurality of grooves and the plurality oflands around the tool body section; and a coil disposed in the antennapathway.
 20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the tool furthercomprises a transmitter.
 21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein thetransmitter comprises: a tool body section having a longitudinal axis,an external surface, and an internal surface; and a plurality of groovesspaced around and embedded in the tool body section, wherein the groovesare of reduced radial dimension relative to the external surface but donot penetrate the internal surface, at least one of the grooves beingoriented at a first direction and at least one of the grooves beingoriented at a second direction, wherein the first direction is not thesame as the second direction.
 22. The apparatus of claim 21, furthercomprising: a plurality of lands spaced around the tool body section,each land of the plurality of lands separating at least two adjacentgrooves of the plurality of grooves; an antenna pathway traversing theplurality of grooves and the plurality of lands around the tool bodysection; and a coil disposed in the antenna pathway.